.-2. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station 


BULLETIN  No.  192 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


BY  J.  L.  EDMONDS 


SUMMARY  OF  BULLETIN  No.  192 

OBJECT. — To  determine  the  efficiency  of  alfalfa  hay,  corn,  and  oats  in  grow 
ing  pure-bred  draft  fillies  to  two  years  of  age. 

PLAN. — Ten  pure-bred  Percheron  fillies  were  fed  from  weanlings  to  two  years 
of  age.  The  experiment,  covering  two  winter  and  one  summer  feeding  periods, 
began  December  8,  1914,  and  ended  when  the  fillies  were  turned  on  pasture  May  8, 
1916.  Oats  and  corn  were  fed,  one-half  of  each  by  weight,  with  alfalfa  hay  as 
the  sole  roughage.  The  pasture  was  a  blue-grass  sod,  containing  a  slight  mixture 
of  other  grasses.  Page  427 

RESULTS. — The  trial  seemed  to  indicate  that  a  liberal  portion  of  well-cured 
legume  hay  should  be  the  foundation  for  feeding  young,  growing  horses.  Along 
with  this  roughage,  enough  grain  should  be  fed  to  produce  the  desired  growth. 
In  this  experiment  it  seemed  necessary,  unless  the  fillies  received  a  set-back  in 
growth,  to  feed  some  grain  thruout  the  pasture  season.  Pages  429,  434 

Alfalfa  hay  fed  with  corn  and  oats  gave  results  of  a  character  which  indicates 
that  there  is  little  or  no  need  of  feeding  purchased  mill  feeds  to  growing  horses 
when  alfalfa  can  be  grown  on  the  farm.  When  alfalfa  hay  is  the  roughage  used, 
a  considerable  proportion  of  the  grain  ration  may  safely  be  corn.  In  this  experi- 
ment the  proportion  was  one-half  by  weight.  Pnge  436 

The  average  total  feed  consumed  per  head  during  the  experiment  was  45.35 
bushels  of  corn,  79.36  bushels  of  oats,  2.58  tons  of  alfalfa  hay,  and  four-fifths  of 
an  acre  of  good  grass.  The  average  total  gain  in  weight  per  individual  was  690.5 
pounds,  and  in  height,  7.96  inches.  The  average  daily  gain  was  1%  pounds. 

Pages  434,  437 

During  the  first  winter  an  average  of  5.674  pounds  of  grain  and  4.266  pounds 
of  hay  was  required  per  pound  of  gain.  The  second  winter  feeding  period  re- 
quired an  average  of  9.228  pounds  of  grain  and  12.99  pounds  of  hay  per  pound 
of  gain.  Pages  437-438 

The  average  weight  of  the  lot  at  twelve  months  was  1,112  pounds;  :it  twenty- 
four  months,  1,548  pounds.  The  average  weight  of  eight  head,  the  two  youngest 
fillies  being  excluded,  at  corresponding  ages,  was  1,128  pounds  and  1,578  pounds 
respectively.  The  growthiest  filly  weighed  1,260  pounds  at  twelve  months  and 
1,775  pounds  at  twenty-four  months.  Pages  437,  439 

COST. — The  three  sets  of  prices  used  in  figuring  the  feed  cost  show  $86.88, 
$105.50,  and  $108.49,  respectively,  as  the  value  of  the  feed  consumed  by  the  ten 
head.  "  Pages  439-440 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 

BY  J.  L.  EDMONDS,  ASSISTANT  CHIEF  IN  HORSE  HUSBANDRY 

OBJECT  OF  THE  EXPEKIMENT 

From  weaning  time  to  two  years  of  age  is  generally  recognized 
as  a  critical  period  in  the  development  of  draft  horses.  Both  grades 
and  pure-breds  are  frequently  not  well  enough  grown  out  to  permit 
anywhere  near  the  development  of  their  inherent  possibilities.  The 
object  of  the  experiment  reported  in  this  bulletin  was  to  determine 
the  efficiency  of  alfalfa  hay,  corn,  and  oats  in  growing  pure-bred 
weanling  draft  fillies  to  two  years  of  age. 

PLAN 

Ten  pure-bred  Percheron  filly  foals  dropped  in  the  spring  and 
summer  of  1914  were  used  in  the  trial.  Four  of  the  number  were 
foaled  by  mares  owned  by  the  Experiment  Station;  the  rest  were 
purchased  from  Illinois  breeders.  The  experiment  began  December 
8,  1914.  The  fillies  were  carried  thru  two  winters  and  one  summer, 
the  trial  being  completed  May  8,  1916. 

FEED 

The  grain  feeds  used  were  oats  and  corn,  one-half  of  each  by 
weight.  Grain  was  fed  three  times  a  day  except  when  the  fillies  were 
on  grass;  then  it  was  fed  twice  a  day.  During  the  first  winter  the 
oats  and  corn  were  ground,  and  after  that  whole  oats  and  shelled  corn 
were  fed.  Shelled  corn  was  used  instead  of  ear  corn  because  it  in- 
sured each  individual  a  somewhat  better  chance  of  obtaining  her 
share.  Alfalfa  hay  grown  on  the  farm  of  the  Animal  Husbandry 
Department  was  the  sole  roughage  used.  Hay  was  fed  twice  a  day 
except  when  the  fillies  were  on  pasture,  during  a  part  of  which  time 
no  hay  was  fed ;  after  the  pasture  became  short,  hay  was  fed  once  a 
day.  More  grain  would  have  been  eaten  than  was  fed;  with  the  al- 
falfa hay,  however,  the  aim  thruout  the  trial  was  to  feed  as  much  of 
it  as  would  be  thoroly  cleaned  up.  This  method  of  feeding  resulted 
in  no  feed  being  wasted  and  did  away  with  any  necessity  of  weighing 
back  refused  feed.  Alfalfa,  corn,  and  oats  were  the  feeds  selected, 
since  the  aim  was  to  secure  good  results  with  farm  feeds  rather  than 
purchased  mill  feeds,  and  these  three  are  widely  available  on  corn- 
belt  farms.  The  ten  head  were  fed  in  one  lot  from  racks  and  troughs 
built  along  the  sides  of  the  loose  boxes  used  for  shelter. 

427 


428  BULLETIN  192  [December, 

Samples  of  the  grain  and  hay  were  saved  regularly  at  each  feeding 
time.  The  results  of  the  analyses  of  these  samples  which  were  made 
by  the  division  of  animal  nutrition  of  this  station  are  given  in  Table 
A,  page  441. 

The  pasture,  eight  acres  in  area,  was  heavy  blue  grass  with  a 
slight  mixture  of  timothy,  orchard  grass,  medium  red,  and  white 
clover.  The  fillies  ran  on  pasture  during  pasture  season  only;  at 
other  times  they  had  access  to  a  half-acre  cinder  lot. 

Salt  was  regularly  added  to  the  grain  feed. 

Well  water  was  supplied  from  a  tank  so  located  that  one-half  of 
it  was  available  in  each  box  stall. 

SHELTER 

The  fillies'  shelter  consisted  of  two  16-by-20-foot  box  stalls.  Doors 
8  feet  wide  opened  into  a  small  cinder  lot  which  connected  the  boxes 
with  the  pasture  and  the  half-acre  cinder-covered  exercise  lot.  The 
box-stall  doors  were  closed  only  during  a  very  few  of  the  most  stormy 
nights  in  winter.  Altho  at  practically  all  other  times  the  fillies  had 
their  choice  of  being  outdoors  or  in,  they  seemed  to  prefer  the  open, 
except  at  feeding  times  and  during  the  heat  of  the  day  in  summer. 
This  method  of  stabling  insured  sufficient  protection  without  any  un- 
due restriction  of  opportunity  for  exercise,  which  must  accompany 
good  feeding  if  the  best  all-around  results  are  to  be  obtained.  Canvas 
"flappers"  nailed  to  the  over-head  joists  assisted  in  keeping  the  flies 
off  the  backs  of  the  fillies.  An  application  of  coal-tar  disinfectant  to 
the  lower  part  of  the  canvas  prevented  it  from  being  chewed  or  torn 
down. 

BEDDING 

Shavings  were  used  for  bedding.  Straw  bedding,  while  most  de- 
sirable in  ordinary  practice,  would  have  prevented  an  accurate  feed 
record  because  a  varying  portion  of  it  would  have  been  eaten.  Fresh 
bedding  was  added  as  needed;  the  box  stalls  were  cleaned  directly 
into  the  manure  wagons  once  or  twice  a  month. 

GROOMING 

The  fillies  were  tied  up  daily  and  given  a  hurried  grooming  with 
a  dandy-brush.  Once  a  month,  or  oftener  if  necessary,  their  feet  were 
gone  over  carefully  and  leveled  with  a  hoof  rasp. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  FILLIES 

Table  1  describes  the  pure-bred  Percheron  fillies  used  in  this  ex- 
periment. The  group  pictures,  taken  late  in  the  winter,  show  quite 
clearly  the  sort  of  fillies  which  made  up  the  lot.  Two  of  the  ten  head, 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


429 


Isabel  and  Dorethy,  were  at  some  disadvantage  because  they  were 
younger  than  the  rest  of  the  lot.  All  individuals,  as  their  weights 
would  indicate,  had  received  good  treatment  previous  to  the  time  of 
the  experiment. 

TABLE  1. — DESCRIPTION  or  FILLIES  AT  BEGINNING  OF  EXPERIMENT, 
DECEMBER  8,  1914 


Name 

Stud- 
book 
No. 

Breeder 

Color 

Date 
foaled, 
1914 

Age 

& 
1 

Height 

Blue  Bell.. 
Dorethy.  .. 

Dottie 

110669 
110194 

University 
of  Illinois.  .  . 

Geo.  Frerichs 
and  Sons.  ..  . 

Gray,  star, 
stripe.  .  . 

Black, 
white  on 
right  hind 
foot  

May  13 
June  2  . 

days 
209 

189 

Ibs. 
810 

7?,5 

hands  inches 
13        2% 

13        1% 

Sloan.  .  . 
Eleanor.  .  . 
Isabel  

106156 
110668 
110670 

Geo.  Frerichs 
and  Sons.  .  .  . 
University 
of  Illinois  .  .  . 
University 
of  Illinois  .  .  . 

Black,  star 
Gray,  star 

Gray, 
elongated 
star  

May  15 
Apr.  25 

July  2. 

207 
227 

159 

930 
970 

685 

13         2 
14           % 

13        1% 

Karol  

110836 

Imported  in 

Madame.  .  . 

Midinette.  . 
Primrose.  . 

Miss  Yoke. 

109992 

109993 
106240 
111136 

dam  

A.  L.  Eobison 
and  Sons.  .  .  . 

A.  L.  Robison 
and  Sons.  .  .  . 
Geo.  Frerichs 
and  Sons.  .  .  . 
G.  W.  Wevhrich 

Gray  

Black,  tan 
markings.  . 

Gray  

Black,  star. 
Grav.  . 

Apr.  12 

Apr.  23 
Apr.  28 

May  25 
Mar.  21 

240 

229 
224 

197 
262 

880 

830 
810 

775 

815 

13        3% 

13         3% 

13           % 

13         1% 
13         2% 

Average  of  10  head |  214.3|  823  |    13        2% 


DISCUSSION  OF  RESULTS 

Table  2  shows  the  average  individual  consumption  of  feed  for  the 
different  periods  of  the  experiment,  and  Tables  3  and  4  the  weights, 
heights,  and  gains  of  the  fillies  during  the  same  periods. 

During  the  first  period,  the  fillies  were  allowed  as  much  grain  and 
hay  as  they  would  readily  consume.  This,  tho  it  resulted  in  good 
gains,  did  not  seem  to  be  a  profitable  nor  an  entirely  safe  procedure 
because  of  the  high  grain  consumption.  Accordingly,  the  grain  ration 
was  gradually  restricted  until  it  was  reduced  to  an  amount  which  in- 
sured the  consumption  of  a  pound  or  more  of  hay  per  day  to  the 
hundredweight  of  filly.  Experience  here  would  seem  to  indicate  that 
a  liberal  portion  of  well-cured  legume  hay  should  be  the  foundation 
for  feeding  young,  growing  horses.  In  addition  to  the  legume  rough- 


430 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


431 


432 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


433 


434 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


age,  enough  grain  should  be  fed  to  produce  good  growth.  The  figures 
indicate  that  as  the  individual  becomes  older  it  is  possible  and  de- 
sirable to  decrease  the  proportion  of  grain  and  increase  the  proportion 
of  hay,  and  still  obtain  excellent  gains. 

A  grain  feed  of  approximately  one-half  pound  per  day  to  the 
hundredweight  of  filly  seems  to  be  enough  to  produce  proper  develop- 
ment on  pasture.  Altho  the  pasture  used  in  this  experiment  was 
about  as  good  as  can  ordinarily  be  found,  the  eight  acres  were  not 
quite  enough  to  furnish  an  abundance  of  grass.  This  made  it  neces- 
sary during  three  of  the  periods  on  pasture  to  feed  an  amount  of 
hay  daily  which  equaled  the  amount  of  grain  fed  at  that  time. 

TABLE  2. — FEED  CONSUMED  BY  PERIODS 

(Graiifc  Corn  y2  and  Oats  y2 :  Hay  =  Alfalfa  Hay2  and  Pasture8) 
(Expressed  in  pounds) 


Period:  28  days 

Average 
daily  ration 
per  head 

Average 
total  feed 
per  head 
per  period 

Average 
daily  feed 
per  day 
per  cwt. 
of  animal 

Average 
amount  of 
feed  required 
per  pound 
of  gain 

Grain 

Hay 

Grain 

Hay    [Grain  |  Hay    Grain  |  Hay 

Dee.  8,  1914-Jan.  4, 
1915     

13.72 
10.96 
10.79 
10.54 
9.60 
9.88 
6.10 
6.20 
6.20 
6.20 
6.50 
10.51 
10.83 

11.31 
11.60 
11.60 
11.60 
11.44 

11.60 

4.97 
4.93 
8.94 
10.31 
10.64 
6.684 

6.*20 

6.20 
6.50 
15.46 
18.14 

18.11 
14.21 
14.32 
15.00 
15.99 

16.00 

384.2 
307.0 
302.0 
295.2 
268.8 
276.6 
170.8 
173.6 
173.6 
173.6 
182.0 
294.4 
303.2 

316.8 
324.8 
324.8 
324.8 
320.4 

162.4 

139.2 
138.0 
250.2 
288.6 
298.0 
187.0 

1.607 
1.224 
1.124 
1.036 
.902 
.880 
.516 

.582 
.550 
.931 
1.013 
1.000 
.595 

6.57 

7.22 
4.14 
6.49 
5.38 
4.04 
4.02 

2.38 
3.25 
3.43 
6.34 
5.96 
2.73 

Jan.       5-Feb.      1.. 
Feb.      2-Mch.     1.. 
Meh.      2-Mch.  29.. 
Men.    30-Apr.    26.. 
Apr.     27-May    24.. 
May     25-June  21.. 
June    22-July    19  .  . 
July    20-Aug.   16.. 
Aug.    17-Sept.  13.. 
Sept.    14-Oct.     11.. 
Oct.      12-Nov.     8.. 
Nov.      9-Dec.      6.. 
Dee.  7,  19  15-  Jan.  3, 
1916  

.518 

• 

173.6 
173.6 
182.0 
432.8 
508.0 

507.0 
398.0 
401.0 
420.0 
447.6 

224.0 

.511 

.502 
.522 
.831 
.827 

.832 
.839 
.824 
.805 
.771 

.769 

.511 
.502 
.522 
1.222 
1.386 

1.332 
1.029 
1.017 
1.041 
1.077 

1.061 

4.69 
16.53 
13.00 
9.65 
4.93 

15.09 
12.99 
10.83 
9.28 
7.63 

13.53 

4.69 
16.53 
13.00 
14.19 
8.26 

24.14 
15.92 
13.37 
12.00 
10.66 

18.66 

Jan.       4-Jan.    31.. 
Feb.       1-Feb.    28.. 
Feb.     29-Meh.  27.. 
Mch.    28-Apr.    24.. 
Apr.     25-May      8 
(14  days)  

Total  time:  Dee.  8, 
1914,    to    May    8, 
1916,  518  days... 

9.805 

9.978 

5  079' 

5  168.6 

(2.5843T) 

.811 

.825 

7.356 

7.485 

*Grain  was  ground  during  the  first  winter. 
JNo  hay  was  fed  from  May  14  to  July  19,  1915. 
8On  pasture  from  May  14  to  October  11,  1915. 
4For  17  days. 

BThe  fillies  lost  in  weight  during  the  period  June  22  to  July  19,  as  may  be 
seen  from  Tables  3  and  4. 

•45.35  bushels  of  corn;  79.36  bushels  of  oats. 


19161 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


435 


The  amounts  and  kinds  of  feeds  were  well  adapted  to  the  needs 
of  the  fillies.  An  average  daily  gain  of  1%  pounds,  a  total  gain  in 
weight  of  690.5  pounds,  and  a  total  gain  in  height  of  almost  8  inches 
is  entirely  satisfactory.  Several  factors — distemper,  drying  up  of 
pasture  in  late  summer,  and  flies — were  responsible  for  the  compara- 
tive irregularity  of  the  increases  in  weight.  Shortly  after  the  trial 
started  the  fillies  all  had  distemper,  several  of  them  quite  severely, 
but  at  all  other  times  they  were  in  thrifty  condition,  and  made  an 
excellent  growth  of  bone  and  muscle.  At  no  time  during  the  trial 
did  they  carry  more  condition  than  was  desirable  from  the  standpoint 
of  growth.  The  actual  growth  in  height  was  in  all  probability  not 
as  uneven  as  the  table  shows  it  to  be.  At  the  beginning  of  the  experi- 
ment it  was  somewhat  of  a  proposition  to  get  the  weanlings  to  stand 
properly  while  the  standard  was  applied,  and  during  the  winter 
months  the  cinders  in  the  exercise  lot  kept  the  feet  of  the  fillies  con- 
siderably shorter  than  they  were  when  on  grass. 


TABLE  3. — INDIVIDUAL  GAINS  IN  WEIGHT  BY  PERIODS 
(Expressed  in  pounds) 


Period:    28  days 

Blue 
Bell 

Dore- 
thy 

Dottie 
Sloan 

Elea- 
nor 

Isa- 
bel 

Karol 

Madame 

Midi- 
nette 

Prim- 
rose 

Miss 
Yoke 

Initial  weight 

Dee.  8,  1914  

810 

725 

930 

970 

685 

880 

830 

810 

775 

815 

Dec.       8-Jan.      4  

30 

70 

75 

55 

40 

30 

90 

60 

65 

70 

Jan.       5-Feb.      1  

60 

50 

50 

45 

40 

10 

20 

35 

40 

75 

Feb.      2-Mch.     1  

65 

60 

40 

95 

100 

80 

85 

75 

65 

65 

Mch.      2-Mch.   29  

50 

45 

45 

45 

5 

60 

65 

40 

55 

45 

Mch.    30-Apr.    26  

75 

45 

35 

65 

40 

65 

55 

5 

45 

70 

Apr.    27-May    24  

90 

50 

55 

80 

60 

50 

70 

80 

75 

75 

May    25-  June  21  

10 

35 

60 

45 

40 

75 

40 

30 

50 

40 

June    22-July    19  

0 

-25 

-40 

-15 

25 

-5 

-15 

10 

-15 

-5 

July    20-Aug.    16  

40 

40 

35 

25 

30 

35 

50 

55 

50 

10 

Aug.    17-Sept.  13  

5 

-10 

15 

10 

15 

10 

35 

0 

20 

5 

Sept.    14-Oct.     11  

25 

-15 

-10 

-15 

20 

25 

25 

30 

40 

15 

Oct.     12-Nov.      8  

35 

60 

45 

80 

55 

20 

5 

-20 

-10 

35 

Nov.      9-Dec.      6  

70 

55 

85 

40 

55 

65 

50 

75 

70 

50 

Total  gain:  Dec.  8, 

1914-Dee.  6,  1915.  . 

555 

460 

490 

555 

525 

520 

575 

475 

550 

550 

Dec.       7-Jan.      3  

20 

20 

201      55 

10 

-5           35 

-5 

30 

30 

Jan.      4-  Jan.    31.  ... 

20 

25 

35 

35 

20 

20 

15 

20 

35 

25 

Feb.      1-Feb.    28.... 

15 

35 

35 

0 

35 

45           25 

30 

30 

50 

Feb.    29-Mch.   27  

30 

40 

45 

90 

-5 

50 

25 

20 

15 

40 

Mch.    28-Apr.    24  

50 

45 

50 

45 

45 

40 

40 

30 

35 

40 

'Apr.   25-May      8.... 

-10 

15 

20 

25 

25 

-20 

20 

25 

15 

5 

Total  gain:  Dec.  7, 

1915-May  8,  1916.. 

125 

180 

205 

250 

130 

130 

160 

120 

160 

190 

Total  gain:   Dec.  8, 

1914-May  8,  1916.. 

680 

640 

695 

805 

655 

650 

735 

595 

710 

740 

Final    weight  11490113651  16251775 

13401   1530 

1  565    11  405  1   1  485 

1  555 

days. 


436 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


Alfalfa  hay  fed  with  corn  and  oats  gave  results  of  a  character 
which  indicates  that  there  is  little  or  no  need  of  feeding  bran  or  other 
purchased  mill  feeds  when  a  good  quality  of  alfalfa  hay  can  be  grown 
on  the  farm.  Because  of  its  high  protein  and  mineral  content,  of 
calcium  especially,  alfalfa  hay  is  well  suited  to  grow  the  heavy  muscles 
and  large,  strong  bones  which  are  necessary  for  the  real  drafter.  A 
greener,  leafier  quality  of  hay  was  fed  to  these  fillies  than  usually 
gives  best  results  when  fed  to  hard- worked  horses;  and  it  was  not 
found  necessary  in  the  case  of  these  growing  fillies,  as  with  mature 
animals,  to  limit  the  amount  of  alfalfa  hay  fed.  Furthermore,  when 
alfalfa  hay  is  the  roughage  used,  a  considerable  proportion  of  the 
grain  ration,  in  this  trial  one-half  by  weight,  may  be  corn,  the  grain 
grown  in  greatest  quantity  in  the  Middle  West. 

It  seems  quite  clear  from  this  and  other  similar  trials  that  in 
addition  to  liberal  grain  feeding,  which  is  admittedly  necessary  and 
important  for  growing  drafters,  the  development  of  size  and  quality 
of  bone  is  also  intimately  connected  with  the  grazing  on  pasture  of 
nutritious  grasses  and  clovers  and  the  feeding  of  good  legume  rough- 

TABLE  4. — WEIGHTS,  HEIGHTS,  AND  GAINS  OP  ALL  THE  FILLIES  BY  PERIODS 


Period:  28  days 

Average 
weight 
per  head1 

Average 
daily  gain 
in  weight 
per  head 

Average 
total  gain 
in  weight 
per  head 

Average 
height 
per  head* 

Average 
total  gain 
in  height 
per  head 

Ibs. 

Ibs. 

Ibs. 

'>ands  inches 

inches 

Dec.  8,  1914-Jan.  4, 

1915  

854.1 

2.09 

58.5 

13      2.35 

1.20 

Jan.      5-Feb.      1  

895.8 

1.52 

42.5 

13      3.53 

.80 

Feb.      2-Mch.     1  

959.8 

2.61 

73.0 

14        .55 

.49 

Mch.     2-Mch.    29  

1  017.4 

1.63 

45.5 

14        .M 

.76 

Mch.    30-Apr.    26  

1  064.8 

1.79 

50.0 

14       1.60 

.40 

Apr.    27-May    24  

1  122.2 

2.45 

68.5 

14       2.00 

.63 

May    25-June  21  

1  182.8 

1.52 

42.5 

14       2.63 

.67 

June    22-July    19  

1  196.4 

-.30 

-8.5 

14      3.30 

.15 

July    20-Aug.    16  

1  213.7 

1.32 

37.0 

14      3.45 

.03 

Aug.    17-Sept.  13  

1  234.6 

.38 

10.5 

14       3.48 

.47 

Sept.   14-Oct.     11  

1  244.7 

.50 

14.0 

14       3.95 

.50 

Oct.     12-Nov.     8  

1  264.9 

1.09 

30.5 

15         .45 

.04 

Nov.      9-Dec.      6  

1  309.4 

2.20 

61.5 

15         .49 

.66 

Dec.  7,  1915-Jan.  3, 

1916  

1  358.8 

.75 

21.0 

15       1.15 

.34 

Jan.      4-  Jan.    31  

1  382.0 

.89 

25.0 

15       1.49 

.36 

Feb.      1-Feb.    28  

1  408.1 

1.07 

30.0 

15       1.85 

19 

Feb.    29-Mch.   27  

1  440.7 

1.25 

35.0 

15       2.04 

.23 

Mch.    28-Apr.    24  

1  484.1 

1.50 

42.0 

15       2.27 

.04 

•Apr.  25-May      8  

1  507.7' 

.86 

12.0 

15       2.73* 

... 

Total  time:  Dec.  8, 

1914,   to  May  8, 

1916  

1.333 

690.5 



7.96 

Calculated   from   weekly  weights.      'Final    average  weight,    1513.5   pounds. 
*At  beginning  of  each  period.    'Final  height,  15  hands  2.31  inches.    '14  dayi. 


1916]  FEEDING  PUKE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES  437 

ages  during  seasons  when  such  pasture  is  not  available.  In  this  test 
desirable  growth  of  frame  was  made  on  pasture  which  was  not  fully 
indicated  by  the  weights  of  the  fillies.  On  most  farms  it  would  be  of 
advantage  to  use  more  pasture  than  was  available  in  this  trial,  and 
in  the  winter  to  feed  some  of  the  coarse  roughages,  such  as  corn  fod- 
der, oat  straw,  or  sorghum  along  with  alfalfa. 

When,  as  the  experiment  shows,  an  average  of  45.35  bushels  of 
corn,  79.36  bushels  of  oats,  2.58  tons  of  alfalfa,  and  four-fifths  of  an 
acre  of  good  pasture  will  keep  individuals  of  the  kind  used  in  this 
experiment  in  thrifty  and  salable  condition  from  the  fall  of  the  year 
in  which  they  are  foaled  up  to  the  time  they  are  two  years  of  age,  it 
would  seem  worth  while  to  grow  out  well-bred  young  drafters  prop- 
erly, and  thus  obtain  the  size  and  finish  which  experience  has  shown 
to  be  necessary  for  the  greatest  remuneration. 

FEED  CONSUMED  AND  GAINS  BY  SEASONS 

Table  5,  giving  the  feed  consumption  and  the  gains  by  seasons, 
shows  that  the  largest  gains,  in  proportion  to  feed  consumed,  were 
made  during  the  first  winter,  when  an  average  of  5.674  pounds  of 
grain  and  4.266  pounds  of  hay  were  required  per  pound  gain.  The 
second  winter  feeding  period  required  an  average  of  9.228  pounds  of 
grain  and  12.990  pounds  of  hay,  the  average  grain  requirement  per 
pound  of  gain  being  at  this  time  almost  twice  as  much  and  the  hay 
requirement  slightly  over  three  times  as  great  as  it  was  during  the 
first  winter. 

It  is  of  particular  advantage  to  have  pure-breds  well  grown  at 
two  years  of  age,  because  well-grown  individuals  of  both  sexes  are  in 
good  demand  at  that  age.  A  study  of  these  figures  would  seem  to 
show  the  fallacy  of  attempting  to  make  good  draft  horses  by  roughing 
weanlings  thru  the  winter  with  stunted  yearlings  as  a  result.  Con- 
tinued liberal  feeding  thru  the  summer  and  the  succeeding  winter 
made  big,  growthy,  two-year-old  fillies  that  were  much  nearer  ma- 
turity than  if  they  had  been  forced  to  subsist  on  a  ration  too  limited 
in  either  or  both  the  quantity  and  the  quality  of  the  nutrients  which 
it  contained.  The  group  pictures  of  the  two-year-olds  will  prove  in- 
teresting in  this  connection. 

WEIGHTS  AND  HEIGHTS  OF  THE  FILLIES  AT  ONE  AND  Two  YEARS  OF  AGE 

The  weights  and  heights  recorded  in  Table  6  were  taken  on  the 
days  the  fillies  were  one  and  two  years  of  age.  Dorethy  and  Isabel, 
foaled  in  June  and  July,  are  not  included  in  the  average  for  the  eight 
head,  because  in  addition  to  being  foaled  late  they  were  hardly  drafty 
enough  to  be  compared  with  the  others.  A  comparison  of  the  illus- 
trations of  the  individuals  and  the  data  regarding  their  respective 


438 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


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1916} 


FEEDING  PUKE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


439 


gains  as  given  in  Tables  3  and  6  will  prove  of  interest.  The  heaviest 
filly,  Eleanor,  weighing  1,260  pounds  at  one  year  and  1,775  pounds 
at  two  years  of  age,  was  one  of  the  ' '  top ' '  fillies  of  the  lot. 

TABLE  6. — WEIGHTS  AND  HEIGHTS  OF  THE  FILLIES  AT  ONE  AND  Two 
YEARS  OF  AGE 


Name 

Weight  at 
one  year 

Weight  at 
two  years 

One 

year  'a 
gain  in 
weight 

Height  at 
one  year 

Height  at 
two  years 

One 
year  's 
gain  in 
height 

Blue  Bell  

Ibs. 
1  120 
1  060 
1  200 
1  260 
1  035 
1  095 
1  135 
1  035 
1  120 
1  060 

Ibs. 
1  550 
1  425 
1  690 
1  775 
1  430 
1  570 
1  545 
1  435 
1  555 
1  505 

Ibs. 
430 
365 
490 
515 
395 
475 
410 
400 
435 
445 

hands  inches 
14         2% 
14         1% 
1*        2% 
15           % 
14         2% 
14         2% 
14         2% 
14           % 
14         1% 
14         1% 

hands  inches 
15         3 
15         2 
15         2 
16           % 
16           % 
15         3% 
15         3V2 
15         1 
15         2 
15         2% 

inches 
4% 
4% 
3% 
3% 
5% 
4% 
4% 
4% 
4% 
4% 

Dorethy  

Dottie  Sloan.  .  . 
Eleanor  

Isabel  

Karol  

Madame  

Midinette  

Primrose  

Miss  Yoke  

Average  for 
10  head  

1  112 

1  128 

1  548 
1  578 

436 

450 

14         2% 
14         2^4 

15         2% 

15         2% 

4% 
4%* 

Average  for 
8  head1.  . 

*The  late-foaled  fillies,,  Dorethy  and  Isabel,  are  excluded  in  the  average  for 
the  eight  head. 

COST  OF  FEEDS 

In  Table  7  are  presented  three  sets  of  figures  showing  the  costs 
of  feed  for  the  different  seasons  and  the  total  for  the  one  year  and 
five  months  during  which  the  trial  continued.  A  and  B  prices  are 
those  used  in  figuring  the  cost  of  feed  in  several  other  feeding  trials 
conducted  by  the  Experiment  Station.  C  prices  represent  the 
actual  prices  paid  for  the  grain  used  during  the  second  winter  as 
delivered  at  the  barn.  The  alfalfa  hay  which  was  fed  at  that  time 
had  a  value  of  not  more  than  $11  in  the  mow.  Using  these  latter 
figures,  the  cost  in  cents  per  pound  of  gain  was  7.98  for  the  first 
winter,  16.04  for  the  summer,  and  16.31  for  the  second  winter.  The 
average  total  cost  of  feed  per  head  with  C  prices  was  $56.07  for  the 
year  and  $86.88  for  the  year  and  five  months.  Comparison  of  the 
pictures  of  the  weanlings  with  those  of  the  two-year-olds  will  show 
pretty  well  the  development  which  was  made.  It  is  believed  that  on 
many  farms  where  pure-breds  are  raised,  similar  results  could  be  had 
at  less,  rather  than  more  expense  for  feed.  A  modification  of  the 
ration  fed  during  the  trial,  as  suggested  in  discussing  Table  2,  would 
probably  be  the  means  of  accomplishing  this. 


440 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


TABLE  7. — COST  OF  FEEDS 


Time 

Average  total  cost  of  feed 
per  head 

Av.  total  cost 
of  feed  per  head 
per  day  in  cents 

Average  cost  of 
feed  per  pound 
gain  in  cents 

First  winter: 
Dec.     8-May    13, 
157  days  

A 

Grain        $19.47 
Hay            10.41 

B 

$20.86 
9.11 

C 

$17.19 
7.16 

A 
19.03 

16.70 
25.42 

B 

19.09 

15.61 
24.74 

C 
15.51 

13.65 
19.96 

A 
9.80 

19.63 
20.77 

B 
9.83 

18.34 
20.22 

C 
7.98 

16.04 
16.31 

Summer  : 
May    14-Oct.    11, 
151    days    (%    acre 
of     pasture     per 
head)  

Total      $29.88 

Grain        $10.99 
Hay              4.23 
Pasture      10.00 

$29.97 

$11.77 
3.70 
8.10 

$24.35 

$  9.70 
2.91 
8.00 

Second  winter: 
Oct.     12-May     8, 
210  days  

Total      $25.22 

Grain        $26.68 
Hay            26.71 

$23.57 

$28.59 
23.37 

$20.61 

$23.56 
18.36 

Total      $53.39 

$51.96 

$41.92 

One  year: 
Dec.  8-Dec.  6  

Grain      $  37.18 
Hay            22.17 
Pasture      10.00 

$  39.84 
19.40 
8.10 

$32.83 
15.24 
8.00 

19.05 
25.42 

18.50 
24.78 

15.40 
20.00 

13.20 
23.72 

12.81 
23.13 

10.67 
18.67 

Five  months: 
Dec.    7-May    8, 
154  days  

Total      $  69.35 

Grain      $  19.96 
Hay            19.18 

$  67.34 

$  21.38 
16.78 

$56.07 

$17-62 
13.19 

Total      $  39.14 

$  38.16 

$30.81 

One  year  and  five 
months  :    Dec.    8— 
May  8,  518  days... 

Grain      $  57.14 
Hay            41.35 
Pasture      10.00 

$  61.22 
36.18 
8.10 

$50.45 
28.43 
8.00 

20.94 

20.37 

16.77 

15.71 

15.28 

12.58 

Total       $108.49 

$105.50 

$86.88 

A  =  Alfalfa,  $16  per  ton;  corn,  56  cents  per  bushel;  oats,  40  cents  per  bushel; 
pasture,  $2  per  calendar  month  per  head. 

B  =  Alfalfa,  $14  per  ton;  corn,  65  cents  per  bushel;  oats,  40  cents  per  bushel; 
pasture,  $1.50  per  28  days  per  head. 

C  =  Alfalfa,  $11  per  ton;  corn,  50  cents  per  bushel;  oats,  35  cents  per  bushel; 
pasture,  $10  per  acre — 8  acres. 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


441 


COMPOSITION  OF  THE  FEEDS 

TABLE  A. — CHEMICAL  COMPOSITION  OF  THE  COMPOSITE  SAMPLES  OF  THE  FEEDS 

CONSUMED  BY  THE  FILLIES 

(Eesults  expressed  in  percent  of  the  fresh  substance) 
Analyzed  by  H.  S.  Grindley  and  C.  I.  Newlin 


Kind  of  feed 

Dry 

matter 

Mitrogen- 
f  ree  ex- 
tract 

Crude 
protein 
(Nx6.25) 

Ether 
ex- 
tract 

Crude 
ash 

Crude 
fiber 

Dec.  14,  1914,  to  Mar. 
7,  1915: 
Ground  corn  

88.98 

73.43 

9.24 

3.03 

1.30 

199 

Ground  oats  

93.56 

61.93 

13.31 

5.26 

3.34 

9.72 

Alfalfa  hay  

92.86 

38.89 

14.75 

1.82 

6.50 

3090 

Mar.    8   to    May   30, 
1915: 
Ground  corn  

88.91 

72.76 

9.46 

3.28 

1.38 

203 

Ground  oats  

92.01 

59.32 

13.67 

5.04 

3.63 

1035 

Alfalfa  hay  

91.64 

41.36 

13.96 

2.03 

5.82 

2847 

May  31  to  June   27, 
1915: 
Shelled  corn  

88.52 

71.09 

9.63 

4.33 

1.35 

2.13 

Oats  

91.62 

56.43 

1504 

5.47 

3.71 

10.97 

June  28  to  Aug.  22, 
1915: 
Shelled  corn  

88.66 

71.92 

9.20 

4.10 

1.31 

2.12 

Oats  

91.31 

5643 

1504 

547 

3  71 

1097 

Aug.    23   to   Oct.   17, 
1915: 
Shelled  corn  

89.11 

71.94 

9.52 

4.25 

132 

2.09 

Oats  

92.16 

59.00 

13  27 

5.42 

3.78 

10.6S 

Alfalfa  hay  

91.36 

38.85 

14.87 

2.10 

6.53 

29.01 

Oct.    18   to   Dee.   12, 
1915: 
Shelled  corn  

86.96 

6999 

945 

4.23 

1  22 

2.07 

Oats  

89.72 

60  21 

1045 

5.23 

3  31 

10.43 

Alfalfa  hay  

89.18 

35  17 

15.61 

1.63 

7.34 

29.43 

Dee.  13,  1915,  to  Feb. 
6,  1916: 
Shelled  corn  

8757 

70  89 

9  19 

3  37 

193 

2.18 

Oats  

88.86 

5941 

10  46 

5.51 

3  28 

10.20 

Alfalfa  hay  

90.07 

3484 

1626 

2.07 

662 

30.28 

Feb.    7   to   April   30, 
1916: 
Shelled  corn  

8587 

70  25 

9  34 

297 

130 

2.02 

Oats  

90  27 

60  34 

10  56 

582 

3  34 

10.21 

Alfalfa  hay  

91.37 

38.99 

15.21 

2.14 

6.25 

28.77 

442 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


- 

5 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


443 


J 


444 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BKED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


445 


446 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


1916] 


FEEDING  PURE-BRED  DRAFT  FILLIES 


447 


448 


BULLETIN  192 


[December, 


FIG.  16 — BROOD  MARE  BARN  WHICH  SHELTERED  THE  LOT 


FIG.  17. — TUMBLER  AND  FILLIES 


FIG.  18. — TUMBLER  USED  FOR  FEEDING  GRAIN  IN  PASTURE 


\ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


